Publications ::
Nanocoating of natural cellulose fibers with conjugated polymers
Huang J; Ichinose I; Kunitake T :: 1 June 2005
The unique morphologies of natural fibrous substances blended with synthetic polymers supply superior properties not found in synthetic fibres. There are difficulties in controlling the agglomeration of conjugated polymers with polymer chains being prone to deposit as sediments or irregular nanoparticles. This study details the first successful example of polypyrrole (PPy) nanocoating on a natural cellulosic substance which has complex nanostructures. Use of the polymerisation-induced adsorption process prepares ultrathin films of insoluble polymers on solid substrates, and there is modification of the deposition process to adapt to the nanocoating of cellulose fibres using commercial filter paper as the cellulose substrate. Possible applications of conjugated polymers are frequently inhibited by their inherent intractability. One stimulating challenge remains the hierarchical deposition and morphology control of the conjugated polymers, and the current approach supplies an efficient methodology for the design of conjugated polymeric materials which have unique morphological features. Novel types of conductive textiles can result from the realisation of nanoprecise polymer coating on natural cellulose substances and high mechanical strength through the existence of the cellulose network. There is considerable interest in conjugated polymer metal oxide composites through the combination of unique electronic, photonic and chemical properties of both components. (2 fig, 10 ref)
